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From: mike@vpnet.chi.il.us (Mike Kamlet)
Subject: alt.magic FAQ part 3/4
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Frequently asked questions in alt.magic/part3 (of 4)
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Part 3
VI. OTHER MAGIC REFERENCES
VI-A. MAGAZINES
VI-B. VIDEOS
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VI. OTHER MAGIC REFERENCES
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VI-A. MAGAZINES ON MAGIC
The following list of magic magazines is from contributions from the
following people:
barnett@grymoire.crd.ge.com (Bruce Barnett)
nielsen@eecs.umich.edu (Paul Nielsen)
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General Magic
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Genii
PO Box 36068
Los Angeles, CA 90036
$30 a year for 12 issues.
Color cover, 80 pages an issue. The largest circulation of any magazine.
Everyone should get this just for the ads, as most items are advertized
here. Some columns are useless. I currently enjoy "The Giorgio Letters"
which describes how the Erdnase book is a lot of bull. I also enjoy the T.
A. Waters book reviews and Harkey's column.
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MAGIC - an Independent Magazine for Magicians.
Circulation Department
13337 E. South St. #310
Cerritos, CA 90701
(310) 860-1508 (phone/fax)
$30 a year/ 12 issues.
Similar to Genii (actually - they are competitors) Color cover and color
inside. Columns by Paul Gertner (performance tips), Richard Kaufman (editor
of the magic section), and reviews by Mike Weber.
In my (st922964@pip.cc.brandeis) opinion, is certainly the BEST magic
magazine out there. It is where I learn about 90% of my magic news and
features very interesting articles by the likes of Stan Allen and Michael
Caveney.
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Goodliffe's Abracadabra
Published weekly. $88.50 for 52 issues 20 pages each issue.
(Send $2.00 in cash for sample issue )
Goodliffe Publications
150 New Road, Bromsgrove,
Worcestershire B60 2LG.
England
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Magigram
12 issues for $35
Supreme Magic Company
Supreme House, Bideford, Devon EX39 2AN
England
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Precursor: A Magazine of Innovation
unikorn magic
2215 Mytle St.
Erie, PA 16502
Edited by Bill Miesel
3 issues a year
$16 in US. Canada, Mexico, $19 elsewhere
Similar to Ibidem. Mostly new/experimental card work.
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The Trapdoor
Steven L. Beam
Trapdoor Productions
407 Carrington Drive
Knightdale, NC 27545
(919) 266-7900
5 issues a year $30 USA, $42.50 Overseas
Excellent artwork and Humor, Closeup
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The Minotaur
P.O. Box 470025
Broadview Hts. Oh 44147
$18/year (I think 4-5 issues)
This is Dan Harlan's magazine and its suppose to be one of the best close up
magazines. Not much card stuff.
Dan's has a great mind (I should probably get a subscription-- Mike Kamlet)
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The Servante
P.O. Box 1714, Sta "M"
Calgary Alberta Canada T2P 2L7
$20 for 4 issues
Unknown quality - read about the magazine in an ad.
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New Age, Bizarre Magic, Mentalism, Occult, Tarot, Crystals, etc
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Magick (Edited by Bascom Jones)
7107 Weldon Ave.
Bakersfield, CA 93308
$25 for 26 issues. 4-6 pages per issue. (Every other week a bonus
insert in included.)
This magazine specializes in mentalism.
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Snake-Oil Almanack
P. O. Box 465
Monroe, MI 48161-0465
4 issues @ $20. An issue is two books 4" by 5 1/2", ~20-30 pages each book.
The presentation is in one, and the method is in the other.
Published quarterly, hopefully.
Specializes in Bizarre, New Age, Occult presentations.
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Krypts Quarterly Crier
c/o David Zver
89 West Broad St.
Bethehem, PA 18018
4 issues for $20. An issue is 16 pages of 8 1/2 by 11.
Specializes in Bizarre, New Age, Occult presentations.
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The New Invocation (Edited by Docc Hilford)
PO Box 17163
Phoenix, AZ 85011
$20 for 12 issues (12 pages, 8 1/2" by 11")
Published irregularly.
Specializes in Bizarre, New Age, Occult presentations.
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Magazine for Collectors
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Aphelion
Thomas A. Sawyer
521 S. Lyon St., No. 105
Santa Ana, CA 92701
$30
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Magic Collector's Bulletin
George Daily's Magacana for Collectors
3778 Cayuga Lane
York, PA 17402
(717) 757-3098
$4 for current issue
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Magic Clubs
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Linking Ring (monthly magazine)
International Brotherhood of Magicians
PO Box 192090
St. Lousis MO 63119-9998
Tele: (314) 351-7677
Fax: (314) 353-4771
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M. U. M. (monthly magazine)
Richard Blowers, National Administrator
P.O. Box 510260
St. Louis, MO 63151
(314) 846-5659
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Special Interests
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Rubber Chicken Chronicles
Comedy and Christian Newsletter
Send $2 for sample issue
P. O. Box 505
Sweetwater, TN 37874
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VI-B. VIDEOS ON MAGIC
The following is a list of video tapes on magic. The intent is to list
tapes which instruct rather than tapes of magic performances. If you are
interested in the later, Jeff Isozaki (jti01@duts.ccc.amdahl.com) posts a
monthly list of "Magic in Movies" indicating movies, actors, and scenes in
which magic appears.
Contributors:
Sleight of Hans
cragaisi@isis.cs.du.edu (Chris)
georgec@eng.umd.edu (George B. Clark)
gumby@matt.ksu.ksu.edu (David B. Gumminger)
halw@hpwrce.mayfield.hp.com (Hal Work)
jti01@duts.ccc.amdahl.com (Jeff Isozaki)
msibbern@nyx.cs.du.edu (Michael Sibbernsen)
nielsen@eecs.umich.edu (Paul Nielsen)
nigel@ietech.demon.co.uk ("Nigel G. Backhurst")
Advanced Card Work - all of the Tannen's Stars of Magic-Paul Harris series.
Paul is good, funny, and weird. The tapes are extremely well done, and
the selection of magic is commercial (i.e. not just finger flinging to
impress other magicians, its finger flinging to impress _everybody_!)
Definitely not for beginners!
Animation and Levitation - Kevin James' Floating Rose
This tape is phenomenal! You might never do the floating rose, but you
learn everything you need to do levitiation and animation (close up and
stage). It is difficult, but Kevin takes you step by step and leaves
nothing out.
Basic Card and Coin Sleights - Brad Burt series
Brad is the best teacher of effects around. He has beginners' tapes on
cards, coins, flourishes and sponge balls. They are self-produced so they
are more reasonably priced than Tannen tapes. Brad "guarantees" you can
learn the stuff from the tapes. I don't know if that means refunding the
price of the tape if you can't, but it seems worth a try. For more info,
call (619) 571-4749, Fax: (619) 571-7943.
From Jay Malone (malone@crash.cts.com)
I know Brad and I
have four of his videos (both coin videos, the sponge and the chop cup).
Brad has been teaching many years and was, until he opened his shop, an
active performer.
He studies each effect that he sells and I feel that his "rating system"
is fair. I've never been disapointed in my dealings with him.
Basic Card Slights - Bill Tarr
90min tape packed with, as Bill Tarr says, "everything you need to know
to be a dynamite card magician." The video has fairly poor production
quality, and the backdrop is quite confusing. This aside, the
instruction is excellent; Bill Tarr is a very good teacher. The topics
include: The Slip Shuffle, Jog Shuffle, Hindu Shuffle, Slip Cut, False
Triple Cut, Double Cut Classic Pass, Invisible Pass, Say When Pass,
Classic Force, Riffle Force, Top- Palm, Double Lift, Top Change, Glide,
Buckle, Elmsley Count, Card Weaving, and Key Cards. It includes good
bits of card business and a few good card tricks. Recommend to any
beginning magician as a good way to start with almost all basic card
slights. Also pretty good for those more experienced that need to work
on old skills.
Brad Burt Video Tapes - Brad Burt series
Are excellent for instructional purposes. They are not fancy studio
productions but are easy to follow. One includes the Zarrow shuffle and
appears excellent. The tapes are advertised in Genii from Brad Burt's
Magic Shop in San Diego.
Card Manipulation and Flourishes
"Card Flourishes" - Lou Lancaster
"The Major Card Flourishes" - Brad Burt
"Fedko - Card Illusions" - John Fedko
"Card and Ball Manipulation" - Peki
"Steven's Vol 3" - Shimada
Chop Cup, The - Brad Burt
Everything to do the Chop cup, complete with the double large load
endings standing up and surrounded.
Eugene Goes Bizarre - Eugene Burger - STEVEN'S VOL 4"
I'm very impressed with Burger's Videos. The number of tricks is pretty
low but the production values are the highest I've seen in any of the 8
videos I own. I do a modified version of his "Retribution" (aka the
burned card) and just left people with jaws on the floor. His Gypsy
thread routine in "..Bizzare" is REALLY nice. I have several of his books
and attended a small seminar that he gave in St. Paul last year. A
thoroughly enjoyable person, he really puts a lot of work into his
routines, books and videos.
Gambling Protection Series - Steve Forte
Mail order from RGE - 414 Santa Clara Av; Oakland, CA 94610
Phone: (510)465-6452; Fax:(510)652-4330 Mail:
RGE is a publisher and distributor of gambling related literature,
software and videos. (Visa and MC only for phone orders)
Tape #1: EXCELLENT examples of the pass. These videos are NOT DESIGNED
FOR MAGICIANS OR THE GENERAL PUBLIC. They target pro gamblers and
expose gambling sleights from many angles and in slow motion, etc.
Forte's execution of the two handed pass is flawless. Steve makes a
living doing "cheating at gambling" demos, writing, etc. HE USED TO
BE A FULL TIME CASINO DEALER. He also discusses stacking decks, etc.
A great video.
Greatest Hits - Randy Wakeman
C&S Enterprises - 1116 Brookview - Brentwood, TN USA 37027
90 minutes. 13 effects all taught. All Card routines.
Great quality, post production editing by pro magician (Jim Suprise).
Three good routines are Overclock, Card under glass, and Spectator on
stage. I have included Spectator on stage in my own performance it is a
great ace cutting effect. Harry Loryane Linking Ring "Fine Selections,
fine quality, fine teaching tape"
David Harkey Lecture - David Harkey
Top notch! His routines are simple, visual, and strong. It requires
some good misdirection, but its not overly finger flinging. Here are
some of the routines he performed:
1- He takes out a clean purse filled with black balloons. He blows one
up and pulls off the round part. It becomes a billiard ball.
2- He took a glass marble (it's like, man, a new age crystal, you know)
and softened it with a lighter. He then held it to his lips and blew
into it. It expanded from his mouth like a balloon and you realize
it's a test tube. He fills the tube with sugar from a packet, and
then turns the tube into an hour glass - filled with sugar. He uses
this hour glass to turn time back to the beginning, where the tube
becomes a marble and the sugar is back in the unopened packet.
(PERFORMANCE ONLY)
3- "No Return" - A safety pin is placed in a business card, and the
hole is dragged around. (steel pin = $12)
4- A bill and pencil are borrowed. the pencil penetrates the middle
of the bill, which remains untorn.
5- Four coins are visibly produced and appear at the ends of his
fingers as he touched the table.
6- A ring penetrates his ring finger visibly. A spectator can place
her hand on his and FEEL the ring travel up and thru his finger.
7- 4 coins travel into a glass - You can visibly see the coins arrive
in the glass.
Most (all) of the material is in his book. His lecture consists of 10
items. His book has 60 items. All of the material is similar in
style/strength. He is very innovative. His routines have been used to
win awards. He spent "10 years of his life" working on this book and
it shows. He is a nice guy and quite funny. He is easy to talk to and
not egotistical. He has a knack of ribbing people in the audience w/out
insulting them. This is a rare talent. Strongly recommend the lecture
and the book.
Illusion Video, The
A cheaply made, cheaply bought video teaching you how to make and
perform some standard stage illusions. Included are producing an
assistant, a dove production and vanish, various producing tubes and
boxes, and the flying carpet levitation (you could use an audience
member for this one without tipping the method).
Impossibilia - The John Bannon Video.
It demonstrates and explains 13 tricks, and it runs 90 minutes. It's
excellent.
Linking Rings - Here is a partial list of tapes with instructions on the
linking rings:
1) Fedko - John Fedko has a series of 6 tapes numbered 1 thru 6. One
of the tapes has linking rings as well as other platform effects. I
believe the linking rings are on the "Classic Magic" volume.
2) Marc DeSousa - "Prize Winning Magic"
3) Richard Ross - Stevens' "Greater Magic" series
The most beautiful version of rings I have ever seen. I watched it
many times and was always impressed. He's great.
Negotiating Higher Performance Fees audio tape - Michael Ammar
Recommended regarding fees earned by magicians.
On the Pass - Richard Kaufman
I just bought the video "On the Pass" by Richard Kaufman last weekend. It
is a good presentation of the classic pass, riffle pass and Herrmann pass
along with several variations and tricks based on them. He first
demonstrates the pass as the spectator would see it. Then carefully shows
finger positions and moves very slowly. This is shown from the
performer's point of view. Then he speeds things up. Awesome!
My first time through the tape, I just sat there with my mouth hanging
open. Do I ever have a lot of practicing to do. One comment he makes
near the end of the 40 minute video is, "Practice the classic pass 100
times a day for a year and you'll really have something special."
Penn and Teller -
1: Cruel Tricks for Dear Friends, The video version of their book of the
same name. The Tricks are different than those in the book. You
actually use portions of the video to play the pranks. Hilarious.
2: Penn and Teller Go Public: A 30 minute video which I believe was
originally a PBS special. They do some of their classic bits like
the handstab and Teller's Straight-jacket escape. A mini-concert if
you will.
3: Penn and Teller Get Killed: An actual movie about Penn and Teller.
Penn and Teller guest star on a talk show. Penn mentions how
exciting he thinks life would be if someone were trying to kill him.
You guessed it. Someone takes him seriously!! Some good magic and
lots of humor.
Restaurant Magic Business - Charles Green
Tape that is VERY helpful for the restaurant performer.
Routine Closeup - John Mendoza's
C&S Enterprises - 1116 Brookview - Brentwood, TN USA 37027
1 hr 40 min tape. Mendoza performs 10 effects and teaches 6 of them.
Great quality, post production editing by pro magician (Jim Suprise).
Particularly well explained are Mendoza's Cups and Balls and Dice
Stacking. The Dice stacking are done in slow motion with a clear glass.
Phil Willmarth in Linking Ring said, ".. it is far and away the finest
instructional video I have ever seen"
Simply Magic - Bill Thompson - from The House of Secrets,
12 Caunce Street, Blackpool tel 0253 20902
Thumb Tips - Patrick Page - from the Trik-A-Tape Company,
45-47 Clerkenwell Road, London, EC1M 5RS tel 71 253 9693
Having watched perhaps a dozen instructional VHS tapes on magic, this one
has to be my favorite. It gives an incredible amount of detail for the
endless variety of tricks you can do using a thumb tip. I see beginners
frequently posting inquiries about how to get started in magic. Buying a
copy of this tape is my advice.
Topit Secrets - Patrick Page - from the Trik-A-Tape Company,
45-47 Clerkenwell Road, London, EC1M 5RS tel 71 253 9693
Zarrow Shuffle, The - Brad Burt
This man has to be one of the best teachers I've ever seen. Here, he
teaches both the Zarrow and Faro shuffles as well as tricks. The
Zarrow is the best looking table false shuffle I've ever seen. Unless
you are specifically looking for it, you can't tell the difference
between a Zarrow shuffle and a tabled riffle shuffle - even then you
might not do it.
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Mike Kamlet
mike@vpnet.chi.il.us